A Novel Approach for the Synthesis of Metallic Nanoparticles on Top of a Tellurium Nanowire Using a Green Synthesis Approach for Biomedical Applications

Antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics is a significant concern that the healthcare system is facing today. Antibiotics are no longer the most efficient or effective solution, and new approaches should be developed. One of the most promising alternatives is the use of metallic nanoparticles since bacteria are not able to develop a resistance to them. Metallic nanoparticles can be easily made in aqueous or organic media using physicochemical approaches. However, these protocols are full of drawbacks, such as expensive reagents, production of toxic by-products and need of functionalization to make the nanostructures biocompatible. Therefore, green-synthetic methodologies are presented as an environmentally-friendly alternative to synthetic strategies.

In this research, the green synthesis of metallic tellurium nanowires as a template for the growth of metallic nanoparticles is presented. Metallic nanowires were created using a clean and cost-effective hydrothermal methodology, and then, they were used as a template for the growth of metallic nanoparticles made of different metals, such as platinum, silver or palladium. The synthesis is thermodynamically favored due to the reduction of the surface energy under the presence of a metallic anchorage for the synthesis.

After purification, both nanowires together with nanoparticles, and just nanoparticles were used for antibacterial and biocompatibility experiments showing much promise. Therefore, here, we developed an easy and quick synthesis of metallic nanoparticles on top of a tellurium nanowire synthesized by green chemistry, overcoming the many limitations of traditional synthesis.